294. A column by company being at full distance right in front, and at a halt, when the colonel shall wish to cause it to close to half distance, on the leading company, he will command:
1. To half distance, close column. 2. MARCH. (or double quick—MARCH).
295. At the first command, the captain of the leading company will caution it to stand fast.
0-296. At the same command, the chief of the first platoon, of the first platoon column, will caution his platoon to stand fast.
297. At the command march, which will be repeated by all the captains, except the captain of the leading company, this company will stand fast, and its chief will align it by the left; the file closers will close one pace upon the rear rank.
298. All the other companies will continue to march, and as each in succession arrives at platoon distance from the one which precedes, its captain will halt it.
299. At the instant that each company halts, its guide will place himself on the direction of the guides who precede, and the captain will align the company by the left; the file closers will close one pace upon the rear rank.
300. No particular attention need be given to the general direction of the guides before they respectively halt; it will suffice if each follow in the trace of the one who precedes him.
0-301. At the command march, repeated by the chief of the second platoon, of the first platoon column, and by the chiefs of platoon of the second platoon column, the first platoon of the first platoon column will stand fast, its second platoon will close in mass on its first, and its chief will align it by the left.
0-302. When the last battalion company halts, the second platoon of the second platoon column, will close in mass on its first platoon, which has halted at the same time; its chief will align it by the left.
303. The colonel, on the side of the guides, will superintend the execution of the movement, observing that the captains halt their companies exactly at platoon distance, the one from the other.
304. The lieutenant-colonel, a few paces in front, will face to the leading guide, and assure the positions of the following guides, as they successively place themselves on the direction.
305. The senior major will follow the movement abreast with the last guide. The junior major will follow the movement abreast with the color company.
306. If the column be in march, the colonel will cause it to close by the same commands.
307. If the column be marching in double quick time, at the first command, the captain of the leading company will command, quick time; the chiefs of the other companies will caution them to continue their march.
0-308. At the first command, the chief of the leading platoon of the first platoon column, will command, quick time; the chiefs of the other platoons will caution them to continue the march.
309. At the command march, the leading company will march in quick, and the other companies in double quick time; and as each arrives at platoon distance from the preceding one, its chief will cause it to march in quick time.
310. When the rearmost company shall have gained its distance, the colonel, should he wish to resume the previous gait, will command:
Double quick—MARCH.
0-311. At the command march, the leading platoon of the first platoon column will march in quick, and the other platoons in double quick time. As the second platoon of each platoon column arrives at six paces from its preceding one, its chief will cause it to march in quick time.
312. When the colonel shall wish to halt the column, and cause it to close to half distance at the same time, he will notify the captain of the leading company and the chief of the leading platoon of skirmishers of his intention. At the command march, the captain of the leading battalion company will halt his company, and align it by the left.
0-313. At the same command, the chief of the leading platoon of the first platoon column will halt his platoon, and dress it to the left.
314. If the column be marching in quick time, and the colonel should not give the command double quick, the captain of the leading company will halt his company at the command march, and align it by the left. In the case where the colonel adds the command double quick, the captains of companies will conform to what is prescribed No. 307, and the movement will be executed as indicated No. 309.
0-315. The chief of the leading platoon of the leading platoon column, will conform to what is required above for the chief of the leading company of the battalion column.
TO CLOSE THE COLUMN ON THE EIGHTH, OR REARMOST COMPANY.
316. The column being at a halt, if instead of causing it to close to half distance on the first company, the colonel should wish to cause it to close on the eighth, he will command:
1. On the eighth company, to half distance, close column. 2. Battalion about—FACE. 3. Column forward. 4. Guide right. 5. MARCH (or double quick—MARCH).
317. At the first command the captain of the eighth company will caution it to remain faced to the front; at the second command, all the companies except the eighth, will face about, and their guides will remain in the front rank, now the rear.
0-318. At the first command, each chief of platoon of the first platoon column, will caution it to face about; the chiefs of platoon of the second platoon column will caution them to stand fast. At the second command the first platoon column will face about, the guides remaining in the front rank, now rear.
319. At the fourth command, all the captains will place themselves two paces outside of their companies on the directing flank.
0-320. At the same command, each chief of platoon of the first platoon columns will place himself two paces outside his platoon, and on its directing flank.
321. At the command march, the eighth company will stand fast, its captain will align it by the left, and the file closers will close one pace on the rear rank. The other companies will put themselves in march, and, as each arrives at platoon distance from the one established before it, its captain will halt it and face it to the front. At the moment that each company halts, the left guide, remaining faced to the rear, will place himself promptly on the direction of the guides already established. Immediately after, the captain will align his company by the left, and the file closers will close one pace on the rear rank. If this movement be executed in double quick time, each captain, in turn, will halt, and command: Such company, right about—HALT. At this command, the company designated will face to the right about and halt.
0-322. At the command march, the first platoon of the second platoon column will stand fast; the others will put themselves in march with the guide on the side of the battalion column; when the second platoon of the first platoon column has arrived at a distance from the second battalion company, equal to the difference between the platoon front and six paces, it will be halted and faced about by its chief; when the first battalion company halts; the first platoon will be halted and faced about by its chief, the platoons will be dressed to the left by their respective chiefs, the second at six paces from the first. The second platoon of the second platoon column, will close in mass on its first platoon.
323. All the companies being aligned, the colonel will cause the guides, who stand faced to the rear, to face about.
324. The lieutenant-colonel, placing himself behind the rearmost guide, will assure successively the positions of the other guides, as prescribed No. 304; the senior major will remain abreast with the rearmost company. The junior major will keep abreast with the color company.
325. The column being in march, when the colonel shall wish to close it on the eighth company, he will command:
1. On the eighth company, to half distance, close column. 2. Battalion right about. 3. MARCH (or double quick—MARCH). 4. Guide right.
326. At the first command, the captain of the eighth company will caution his company that it will remain faced to the front; the captains of the other companies will caution their companies that they will have to face about.
0-327. At the same command each chief of platoon of the second platoon column will caution his platoon that it will have to remain faced to the front; the chiefs of platoon of the first platoon column will caution them that they will have to face about.
328. At the command march, the captain of the eighth company will halt his company and align it by the left; the file closers will close one pace upon the rear rank.
329. The captains of the other companies, at the same command, will place themselves on the flank of the column; the subdivisions will face about, the guides remaining in the front rank, now become the rear, and as each arrives at platoon distance from the company immediately preceding it, its chief will face it to the front and halt it as prescribed No. 321. The instant each company halts, the guide on the directing flank, remaining faced to the rear, will quickly place himself on the direction of the guides already established. After which, the captain will align the company by the left, and the file closers will close one pace upon the rear rank.
0-330. At the command march, the chief of the first platoon of the second platoon column will halt his platoon and align it to the left; the chief of the second platoon will close his platoon in mass upon the first; the chiefs of platoons of the first platoon column will place themselves on the flank of the platoons; the platoons will face about, and execute what is prescribed No. 322.
331. The lieutenant-colonel will follow the movement abreast of the first company. The senior major will place himself a few paces in rear of the guide of the eighth company, and will assure successively the position of the other guides. The junior major will keep the position prescribed No. 305.
REMARKS.
332. A column by division at full distance will close to half distance by the same means and the same commands.
333. A column, by company, or by division, being at full or half distance, the colonel will cause it to close in mass by the same means and commands, substituting the indication, column, close in mass, for that of to half distance close column. Each chief of subdivision will conform himself to all that has just been prescribed, except that he will not halt his subdivision till its guide shall be at a distance of six paces from the guide of the subdivision next preceding.
334. In a column, left in front, these various movements will be executed on the same principles.